Gambling Business Group CEO Peter Hannibal celebrated a recent article from economics wonk Dr Chris Snowdon, which calls for a rejection of policy-making driven by emotional manipulation.
The chief executive of the Gambling Business Group has thrown his weight behind a widely acclaimed article which critiques the forging of government policy based on “victim-led” campaigns.
Industry heavyweight trade group chief Peter Hannibal shared an article penned by doctor of economics Chris Snowdon (pictured).
“I do not naturally take to social media to express my personal views, but an article I read recently has inspired me to do exactly that,” posted Hannibal.
In his latest piece published for The Critic magazine, Snowdon, who currently serves as the head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs and is the author of Killjoys: A Critique of Paternalism, renewed his attack on policy-making under duress from weaponised empathy.
“If my child had died on a rollercoaster, I would never want to see another rollercoaster…I might even think that they should be banned, and I could convincingly claim that a ban would save a life sooner or later. If so, I should be gently ignored,” Snowdon argued. “If I was a recovering alcoholic or a problem gambler, I might feel uncomfortable walking past a pub or seeing a bookmaker’s advertisement. My mild discomfort might inspire me to campaign against these things and I could easily find a campaign group to support me, [but] again, I should be ignored.”
“It should be possible to have the utmost sympathy for the victims of horrible tragedies while acknowledging that they are the last people to ask for rational and balanced policy solutions,” he continued. “The most illiberal and occasionally preposterous ideas can be sprung on the public through emotional manipulation…[and] that way lies the road to hell.”
For Hannibal, Snowdon’s argument clearly resonated deeply.
“At a time when news is instant and facts are so hard to establish, it’s wisdom that we need to fall back on in our debate, our discourse and our thinking,” he told fellow industry professionals. “This article is one of those profound ‘pearls of wisdom’ that every MP, every politician, every journalist, everyone in the mainstream media should take a few minutes to read, contemplate and reflect.”
And those in the third sector championing the cause of harsher regulation may also benefit from a quick read of Snowdon’s commentary.
The tragedies that hit individual families impacted by gambling harms provide a vital sound-board to the worst of all consequences. However, Snowdon highlights quite powerfully how we all would respond personally in tragic circumstances. The key issue is, he suggests, policy cannot be driven by crisis; it can only be nurtured through reason rather than emotion.
Balancing emotions
Chris Snowdon said……. “It should be possible to have the utmost sympathy for the victims of horrible tragedies while acknowledging that they are the last people to ask for rational and balanced policy solutions. The most illiberal and occasionally preposterous ideas can be sprung on the public through emotional manipulation…[and] that way lies the road to hell……
